While Kofi fiddles, Dafur...
Posted by: 7V on 31 May 2005
So Kofi's finally got around to visiting Sudan. He's seen evidence of the horrors that have taken place in Dafur and spoken to some of the millions of displaced victims. Mr Annan expressed suitable surprise, disapproval and polite indignation to the world's media and issued stern words to the Sudanese government.
As the conflict, which has claimed the lives of tens of thousands murdered, started in early 2003 one wonders why he didn't act many months ago.
Meanwhile the Sudanese government, clearly terrified of the criticism that has come from such a strong and noble man of action, has arrested Paul Foreman, head of the Dutch branch of aid agency 'Medecins Sans Frontieres', for publishing a report which details 500 rapes over four-and-a-half months in Darfur. He faces up to 3 years in prison.
How lucky we are to have an organisation with the power, leadership and moral authority of the United Nations protecting the interests of the weak in today's world.
Sudan detains aid agency chief over rape report
Regards
Steve M
As the conflict, which has claimed the lives of tens of thousands murdered, started in early 2003 one wonders why he didn't act many months ago.
Meanwhile the Sudanese government, clearly terrified of the criticism that has come from such a strong and noble man of action, has arrested Paul Foreman, head of the Dutch branch of aid agency 'Medecins Sans Frontieres', for publishing a report which details 500 rapes over four-and-a-half months in Darfur. He faces up to 3 years in prison.
How lucky we are to have an organisation with the power, leadership and moral authority of the United Nations protecting the interests of the weak in today's world.
Sudan detains aid agency chief over rape report
Regards
Steve M
As I said afore the Israeli President is here at present on a State Visit (3 days) and the Cops here are Paranoid as fuck, it's a pity that their PM isn't here (as beloved worldwide terrrorist that he is) then the Berliners could really show him what they think, innit.
Fritz Von Naturally the Sun would call us all nazis though, and that would be that, cos nobody doubts the headlines from that branch of HM Gutter-Press, innit
I didn't know the dirty digger owns star wars etc as well, load of Sith, eh ?
Fritz Von Naturally the Sun would call us all nazis though, and that would be that, cos nobody doubts the headlines from that branch of HM Gutter-Press, innit
I didn't know the dirty digger owns star wars etc as well, load of Sith, eh ?
A second senior MSF official has just been arrested which is scandalous in the extreme, but 7up me old mucker your well documented history of blaming our Kofi for everything under the sun is well off the mark I reckon !
Fritz Von Will you blame his successor (possibly Clinton) for everything too ?
Fritz Von Will you blame his successor (possibly Clinton) for everything too ?
Letter from Khartoum
from Our own Corresspondent innit
The comprehensive peace agreement, to which the Sudanese government and the Sudan
People's Liberation Army (SPLA) put their signatures in January, with some nudging
from your diplomats, is neither comprehensive and nor has it delivered peace.
Instead it has demonstrated that if we Sudanese want a share of the pie, we will
have to fight for it.This explains tjhe timing of the Dafur rebellion in Western Sudan
and the increasing restiveness in other neglected and marginalised regions of our
vast country. The Sudanese pie is now huge thanks to the production of half a million
barrels of oil a day and to the $4.5bn Dollars recently pledged by the doners for
"Post conflict reconstruction". Given the high stakes, it's unlikely the SPLA or the
Khartoum government will embrace the holy grail of "good governance" recommended by
your Tony Blair's Africa commission. They're far more likely to divide up the loot
and create two oil-fuelled kleptocracies on the Nile where once there was one.
This is unlikely to be peaceful, despite the anticipated deployment of a large UN
peacekeeping force. Its vangaurd has already arrived, its most tangible achievement
to push up house rental prices at an unprecedented rate and increase traffic
congestion in our unbearably hot and dusty city where most people are hoeless
refugees from the war. The deadly US/UK alliance that brought the Iraq disaster
to the world has also been at work here. The big difference is that while the
'intelligence' on supposed links between Saddam and Al-Qa'eda was rubbish, the
links between Khartoum and Al-Qa'eda are concrete facts. Osama Bin Laden spent
several happy years on the Nile doing deals with our neo-fundamentalist regime.
Luckily for the likes of Vice-President Ali Osman Taha ( the real power here)
and his nominal boss, President Omar Bashir, they ejected Osama some time before
9/11 and started opening their secret files on Al-Qa'eda to the CIA. This makes
the Khartoum regime, which is even now waging a vicious jihad (albeit one against
fellow Muslims) in Dafur, a vital ally of President Bush's global war on terror.
Oue spy chief, Salah Abdallah Gosh (a man linked both to Osama Bin Laden and to
war crimes in Dafur), was a recent VIP visitor in Washington.
The west's moral outrage at Sudan remains high, Neo-Cons regularly recommend
regime change and intrepid western journalists have filed numerous exclusives
on 'genocide' in Dafur. All of which is embarrassing for western oil companys
keen to get back into Sudan. For years they have had to watch the "unscrupulous"
Chinese, Malaysians and French get all the deals. One advantage of the peace
deal is that it will allow UK and US oil companys back here. The word on the
street is that instead of having to deal with the wily Arabs in the north, they'll
be able to go straight to the less experienced ex-rebels in the south where
desperation for the spoils of peace is likely to provide rich pickings for canny
oil executives. The previously unheard of White Nile Company, "investment vehicle"
of former England left arm spin bowler Phil Edmonds, made headlines recently by
signing a massive oil deal weith the SPLA for exploration rights in an area of
the south the size of England. White Nile's stock promptly hit the ceiling and
the London stock exchange had to suspend trading pending publication of details
of the agreement. White Nile's deal is problematic because the SPLA is still a
rebel organistaion and because the government has already granted the block in
question to the French oil ginat, Total. Meanwhile the UK's man here, William
Patey, has got a fine reward for all his diplomacy in Sudan: redeployment as
Mr Tony's ambassador in Baghdad.
Taken from The Scottish Daily Sport (issue 1133) 31.05.05. innit.
from Our own Corresspondent innit
The comprehensive peace agreement, to which the Sudanese government and the Sudan
People's Liberation Army (SPLA) put their signatures in January, with some nudging
from your diplomats, is neither comprehensive and nor has it delivered peace.
Instead it has demonstrated that if we Sudanese want a share of the pie, we will
have to fight for it.This explains tjhe timing of the Dafur rebellion in Western Sudan
and the increasing restiveness in other neglected and marginalised regions of our
vast country. The Sudanese pie is now huge thanks to the production of half a million
barrels of oil a day and to the $4.5bn Dollars recently pledged by the doners for
"Post conflict reconstruction". Given the high stakes, it's unlikely the SPLA or the
Khartoum government will embrace the holy grail of "good governance" recommended by
your Tony Blair's Africa commission. They're far more likely to divide up the loot
and create two oil-fuelled kleptocracies on the Nile where once there was one.
This is unlikely to be peaceful, despite the anticipated deployment of a large UN
peacekeeping force. Its vangaurd has already arrived, its most tangible achievement
to push up house rental prices at an unprecedented rate and increase traffic
congestion in our unbearably hot and dusty city where most people are hoeless
refugees from the war. The deadly US/UK alliance that brought the Iraq disaster
to the world has also been at work here. The big difference is that while the
'intelligence' on supposed links between Saddam and Al-Qa'eda was rubbish, the
links between Khartoum and Al-Qa'eda are concrete facts. Osama Bin Laden spent
several happy years on the Nile doing deals with our neo-fundamentalist regime.
Luckily for the likes of Vice-President Ali Osman Taha ( the real power here)
and his nominal boss, President Omar Bashir, they ejected Osama some time before
9/11 and started opening their secret files on Al-Qa'eda to the CIA. This makes
the Khartoum regime, which is even now waging a vicious jihad (albeit one against
fellow Muslims) in Dafur, a vital ally of President Bush's global war on terror.
Oue spy chief, Salah Abdallah Gosh (a man linked both to Osama Bin Laden and to
war crimes in Dafur), was a recent VIP visitor in Washington.
The west's moral outrage at Sudan remains high, Neo-Cons regularly recommend
regime change and intrepid western journalists have filed numerous exclusives
on 'genocide' in Dafur. All of which is embarrassing for western oil companys
keen to get back into Sudan. For years they have had to watch the "unscrupulous"
Chinese, Malaysians and French get all the deals. One advantage of the peace
deal is that it will allow UK and US oil companys back here. The word on the
street is that instead of having to deal with the wily Arabs in the north, they'll
be able to go straight to the less experienced ex-rebels in the south where
desperation for the spoils of peace is likely to provide rich pickings for canny
oil executives. The previously unheard of White Nile Company, "investment vehicle"
of former England left arm spin bowler Phil Edmonds, made headlines recently by
signing a massive oil deal weith the SPLA for exploration rights in an area of
the south the size of England. White Nile's stock promptly hit the ceiling and
the London stock exchange had to suspend trading pending publication of details
of the agreement. White Nile's deal is problematic because the SPLA is still a
rebel organistaion and because the government has already granted the block in
question to the French oil ginat, Total. Meanwhile the UK's man here, William
Patey, has got a fine reward for all his diplomacy in Sudan: redeployment as
Mr Tony's ambassador in Baghdad.
Taken from The Scottish Daily Sport (issue 1133) 31.05.05. innit.
He's probably not too far off of the mark either is he ?
Fritz Von I don'r drink coffee I take tea my dear
Fritz Von I don'r drink coffee I take tea my dear
I read this late last night and thought it may possibly interest someone out there, innit ?
ASYLUM
Darfur evader
For more than two years the UK, like the rest of the world has turned its back while Darfur
in Western Sudan descended into mass killing, rape, torture and ethnic cleansing. An estimated 300,000 are dead, two million people have been driven from their homes and 10,000 a month are still dying as the Khartoum backed janjaweed Arab militias continue their terror. Now the UK is turning its back on those that managed to flee the brutality and seek refuge in England.
Yousef Artayero was just 15 years old when he was found bewildered at the port of Harwich.
He told an appalling story of how he had fled his families farm near the village Kaiba Fuka
after an attack by the janjaweed in October 2003. His father and brother had been killed and
his injured mother implored him to flee with all the money the family had. He says he hitched
a lift to Port Sudan with a man who arranged with others to smuggle him on to a cargo boat.
Two months later the home office turned down his application for asylum saying his story was
not credible. The official who considered his claim did not believe he would leave his injured
mother or that a family of his relative "wealth" would not have moved earlier. The official also decided - quite wrongly - that because of a ceasefire between rebels in the area and the Sudanese government, Yousef would be safe. In fact conveniently for the Sudanese authorities, the janjaweed are party to no ceasefire. And since October 2003 when Yousef escaped, another one million people have been displaced. According to Amnesty International and Yousef's lawyers and supporters, this type of perverse decision-making is increasingly common as immigration
and asylum officials come under political pressure to keep the numbers down.
Yousef won an appeal before the immigration adjudicator, but the home office then challenged his right to remain and the case went before an immigration judge last month. Yousef's lawyers produced a wealth of evidence to suppoprt his claim. He spoke Fur, the language of the Kenjara clan, to which he says he belongs and which has been targeted by Arab militias. Dr Jan Coebergh, of Newcastle's Freeman hospital and the Univrersity of Newcastle, spent time in Dafur and gave´expert evidence for Yousef, saying that he had described accurately the local geography, his
school town, and the dominant tribes. He drew maps and identified photos. "I am of the firm
opinion he resided in the area he said he did," said Dr Coebergh. But that was not enough for
immigration adjudicator. He deemed all the details Yousef ahd given as "an absence of any
glaring errors or inconsistencies rather than any positive evidence". He also questioned how
Yousef could have got to Port Sudan so far in the north of the country, when it is in fact
2,500km to the east. In addition, Dr Coelbergh said that the adjudicator's case against
Yousef's was based on a death and displacement toll in Darfur of mid-2003. "If an asylum
seeker's story has had as many inconsistencies as this judgement, his appeal would berefused," he said. Yousef's tragic story, by contrast has no inconsistencies and his lawyers are preparing another appeal.
P.Eye (issue 1133)
Fritz Von I doubt if any in this place will find time to comment on this story, but I'm sure
some will ask themselves,why Britain, why is Fritz being so anti British? why do we have an
expensive tax payer funded asylum seekers set up just to pacify doubters of our good nature ?
Why do we sell the buggers weapon's (and subsequent medicine) and nick their oil in the
first place, innit ?
Ps, One of the MSM folk was interviewed late last night on the BBC WS and he reitterated his concernes, obviously after being fortunately freed, can't upset our Tone can we ?
ASYLUM
Darfur evader
For more than two years the UK, like the rest of the world has turned its back while Darfur
in Western Sudan descended into mass killing, rape, torture and ethnic cleansing. An estimated 300,000 are dead, two million people have been driven from their homes and 10,000 a month are still dying as the Khartoum backed janjaweed Arab militias continue their terror. Now the UK is turning its back on those that managed to flee the brutality and seek refuge in England.
Yousef Artayero was just 15 years old when he was found bewildered at the port of Harwich.
He told an appalling story of how he had fled his families farm near the village Kaiba Fuka
after an attack by the janjaweed in October 2003. His father and brother had been killed and
his injured mother implored him to flee with all the money the family had. He says he hitched
a lift to Port Sudan with a man who arranged with others to smuggle him on to a cargo boat.
Two months later the home office turned down his application for asylum saying his story was
not credible. The official who considered his claim did not believe he would leave his injured
mother or that a family of his relative "wealth" would not have moved earlier. The official also decided - quite wrongly - that because of a ceasefire between rebels in the area and the Sudanese government, Yousef would be safe. In fact conveniently for the Sudanese authorities, the janjaweed are party to no ceasefire. And since October 2003 when Yousef escaped, another one million people have been displaced. According to Amnesty International and Yousef's lawyers and supporters, this type of perverse decision-making is increasingly common as immigration
and asylum officials come under political pressure to keep the numbers down.
Yousef won an appeal before the immigration adjudicator, but the home office then challenged his right to remain and the case went before an immigration judge last month. Yousef's lawyers produced a wealth of evidence to suppoprt his claim. He spoke Fur, the language of the Kenjara clan, to which he says he belongs and which has been targeted by Arab militias. Dr Jan Coebergh, of Newcastle's Freeman hospital and the Univrersity of Newcastle, spent time in Dafur and gave´expert evidence for Yousef, saying that he had described accurately the local geography, his
school town, and the dominant tribes. He drew maps and identified photos. "I am of the firm
opinion he resided in the area he said he did," said Dr Coebergh. But that was not enough for
immigration adjudicator. He deemed all the details Yousef ahd given as "an absence of any
glaring errors or inconsistencies rather than any positive evidence". He also questioned how
Yousef could have got to Port Sudan so far in the north of the country, when it is in fact
2,500km to the east. In addition, Dr Coelbergh said that the adjudicator's case against
Yousef's was based on a death and displacement toll in Darfur of mid-2003. "If an asylum
seeker's story has had as many inconsistencies as this judgement, his appeal would berefused," he said. Yousef's tragic story, by contrast has no inconsistencies and his lawyers are preparing another appeal.
P.Eye (issue 1133)
Fritz Von I doubt if any in this place will find time to comment on this story, but I'm sure
some will ask themselves,why Britain, why is Fritz being so anti British? why do we have an
expensive tax payer funded asylum seekers set up just to pacify doubters of our good nature ?
Why do we sell the buggers weapon's (and subsequent medicine) and nick their oil in the
first place, innit ?
Ps, One of the MSM folk was interviewed late last night on the BBC WS and he reitterated his concernes, obviously after being fortunately freed, can't upset our Tone can we ?